4 JANUARY 1930, Page 6

It is precisely in the work of spreading information, and

enlisting sympathy and understanding for the labours of Europe that General Smuts may perform the function of a great missionary. No thinking European wants a conflict at any point with America. Only her intelligent help is sought. But let us add that though we do not for a moment expect America to join the League, we feel that the present misapprehensions are not so dangerous as they seem to be on the surface. Those who know anything of America are confident that even if that nation of idealists was officially assured in an emergency that it was legally quite free to trade as much as it pleased with an" aggressor" it would stoutly refuse to "aid and comfort" him.